Robert "Bob" Cota

Robert W. “Bob” Cota, 90, of Harpers Ferry died Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Ann's-St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Paint Rock Cemetery, Harpers Ferry.
Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 3 at St. Ann's-St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, where there will be a scripture service at 7:30 p.m. Martin Funeral Home of Waukon is handling arrangements.
Robert William Cota was born March 12, 1924 just north of Harpers Ferry on a farm that has been in the Cota family since 1850. He was the third of nine children born to William Leo and Marie (Hawes) Cota. Bob was baptized and confirmed at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry and attended the local school. Following his schooling he began farming with his parents.
June 22, 1948 he married Mary Lou Welsh at St. Mary’s Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon. They continued to operate the Cota family farm milking cows and raising beef cattle, hogs and grain. Bob enjoyed the outdoors, making the farming life suitable for him. Most times he was able to be a veterinarian with his livestock and a mechanic with his machinery. He was also an accomplished carpenter and made repairs to the buildings as well as other items out of wood.
Bob was a lifelong member of St. Ann’s-St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and also a member of the Harpers Ferry Fire Department. He was also an avid hunter and bowler and played baseball with the Harpers Ferry Town Team for many years; continuing later by playing softball well into his 50s.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou, of Harpers Ferry; three children, Pat (Mary Kate) of Harpers Ferry, Kathy (Larry) Pedretti of Genoa, WI and Ron (Brigid) of Harpers Ferry; eight grandchildren, Regan (Jason) Dahlstrom, Jodi Pedretti, Kari (Shawn Olday) Pedretti, Vicki (Chad) Lomen, Cyndi (Doug) Dobitz, Becki Pedretti, Staci (Matt) Harrison and Bob Cota; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Gena Jones, Shirley Scholle, Sister Mary Lou Cota and Sister Kay Cota; and a brother, Rich (June) Cota.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a great-grandson, Quinten Stowers; his brothers and their wives, Jerry and Marion Cota and Leon and Ruth Cota; his sister and her husband, Rose and Leo Foley; and his brothers-in-law, Jim Scholle and Mel Jones.
Honorary casketbearers are Chuck and Shirley Cota, Bob Cota, Don Gavin, Jake Cota and Dick Cota. Casketbearers are Jodi Pedretti, Kari Pedretti, Vicki Lomen, Becki Pedretti, Cyndi Dobitz, Staci Harrison, Regan Dahlstrom and Brittany Miller.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.